As the world prepares for what the Metaverse could bring, we take a look at what it could mean for the iGaming industry.
The industry has always been ready and willing to embrace change since the dawn of online gambling . The shift from desktop gaming to mobile-focused fun, the integration of cryptocurrencies and everything in between – this is one industry that is ready for anything!
Now with the Metaverse on the horizon, ready to take on the world, the online gambling industry must brace itself once more. But what will that mean for online casinos and punters in general?
What is the Metaverse?
Since Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be shifting to Meta as the company focused on the Metaverse, the internet has been flooded with information.
While most have heard the term, many don’t know what the Metaverse actually is and why it matters.
Essentially, the Metaverse is the idea that the internet can be a virtual world filled with possibilities . Virtual pieces of land that can be bought, where avatars roam in place of their human counterparts, and so much more. Many smaller metaverses already exist, but the Metaverse is something that Zuckerberg and this company plan to put on the map.
Virtual reality plays a big part in the Metaverse, and people like Mark Zuckerberg forsee business meetings being held in these spaces instead of in an office. That means workplaces would be filled with AR and VR stations to make communication even more hands-on.
Some question whether the world will ever truly embrace the Metaverse. Still, others want to know what this means for existing industries.
Beam me up, Scotty - Gambling in the Metaverse
Cryptocurrencies and the Metaverse go hand in hand. Being able to safely and quickly make purchases or place bets using crypto is the only seamless way for money to change hands in a scenario such as this.
For Bitcoin casinos and other crypto casinos, this means looking to the Metaverse for what could be the future. As already mentioned, VR plays a huge role in making the Metaverse an immersive experience which means more integration and creation of VR casino games.
More than just another way to play with VR, the Metaverse provides a real opportunity for VR casinos to take off.
Now for sale: Property in the Metaverse
In the past, online casinos such as Slots Million attempted to create a virtual reality space where punters could walk around the casino and play casino games . Unfortunately, it wasn’t embraced and couldn’t stand the test of time. While the VR casino may no longer be available, it was innovative and could very well be viable very soon.
Looking to the future, property is already for sale in the Metaverse. You can buy or rent a piece of virtual land and do with it as you please. If this is possible, can we expect to see virtual casinos fully designed to draw crowds?
Imagine walking around your virtual neighbourhood and spotting a casino designed to blow your mind. Flashing lights, 3D imagery forming a light show in the virtual sky, and booming sound clips to get you in the mood to gamble. It may sound a little crazy, but if virtual casinos are allowed to do as they please, this could be a reality.
Of course, there will be regulations and legislation in place to protect players, but there’s no telling what can be regulated in a world where physical laws don’t apply.
Early adopters?
After the initial hype about the Metaverse and all it could contain first dropped, companies such as Entain and World Poker Tour took the first steps at being early adopters in this exciting new world.
Entain invested £100 million in a global innovation hub that will focus on creating “disruptive technologies” to prepare for the Metaverse. World Poker Tour launched an NFT poker club, stating that it was taking “the poker world’s first step into the exciting metaverse”.
As the world shifts its focus to see what companies around the world plan to do next, we’re excited to see software providers develop VR and AR casino games. While a handful of VR casino games are already available, the technology still leaves a lot to be desired.
Science fiction and futuristic films have always hinted at a world like the Metaverse being a possibility, but we may soon see it as a reality – and it looks like a lot of fun!